I've been spending a lot of time lately getting ready for 2010 – planning, organizing, strategizing, visioning, and more. There are many transitions and transformations on the horizon for me and my business, and much to do to prepare for them, so I'm making space and opening the flow.
In Part 1 of this article, I shared 3 ways you can make space in your business (read it here). Now here are 3 ways I'm opening the flow in my business that you can do too:
1. Escape Email Overwhelm
The number one distraction to moving your business forward by leaps instead of baby steps is email. So here's my system for handling email overload. If you can practice this 80% of the time, you'll be way ahead of the game.
a. Delete: scan and delete junk emails first
b. Move: move any emails into an appropriate folder – and create a rule to make that happen automatically
c. Delegate: delegate any emails that should be responded to by someone else
d. Respond: respond to any emails that only YOU can respond to
The goal is to only have emails in your inbox that require action from you!
2. Track your money
One of the easiest ways to open the flow of money in your business is to start tracking exactly how much comes in on a daily basis. I give each of my Platinum clients a money tracking sheet that makes it super-simple for them to implement this tip, but you can create your own very easily.
Just create a simple form that lists the days of the month, with your monthly money goal listed as well. Each day fill in the amount of money that came into your business, and don't forget to include affiliate payments and any other sources of revenue as well.
Just by paying attention to what's coming in will open the flow to more, and before you know it, all the days of the month will be filled in with a number!
3. Don't overbook
When putting together your master plan for 2010, make sure you don't overbook yourself. If you do, you won't leave space for other opportunites to show up that you likely aren't aware of yet.
When I completed my own master plan for 2010, and then just recently with one of my Private Platinum clients, it was complete, but not overbooked. There was time off, as well as space for other exciting possiblilities to come up.
How are you making space and opening the flow for the new year? I'd love to know – please leave your comments below.
(c) 2009 Alicia Forest
About the author: Alicia M Forest, MBA, 6-Figure Business Breakthrough Mentor, teaches self-employed professionals how to attract more clients, create profit-making products and services, make more sales, and ultimately live the life they desire and deserve. For FREE tips on how to create wild abundance in your business, visit http://www.ClientAbundance.com
Happy Holidays!
I know this time of year is filled with thoughts of holiday parties and getting all your shopping done asap, but you don't want to miss this…
For 3 days only, I'm giving you 50% 0FF three fantastic programs I've produced over the past 4 years.
This is my holiday gift to you, as my way of saying thank you for being a Creating Client Abundance subscriber and for being part of the Client Abundance community!
So, if you want to receive your special link to receive 50% these best-selling products, be sure to sign up for my list to the left <<— (if you're already on my list, you'll receive your special link on Wednesday, December 16th automatically!).
Which ones do you want at 50% off?
1. 21 Easy & Essential Steps to Online Success System™
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This jam-packed program gives 42 (almost all f.r.e.e.) ways to authentically, quickly and easily double – even triple – your list.
3. Online Business Basics Bundle
The best-of content from the Client Abundance Coaching Café, available to members only – until now.
Remember, the sale starts on Wednesday, December 16th, so be on the lookout for your special link or be sure to register to the left <<– to get yours, ok?
Cheers,
~ A
I've been spending a lot of time lately getting ready for 2010 – planning, organizing, strategizing, visioning, and more. There are many transitions and transformations on the horizon for me and my business, and much to do to prepare for them, so I'm making space and opening the flow.
Here are some of the ways I'm doing this in my business that you can do too:
1. Clean Up Your Business Time
Time is your only non-renewable resource. If you've ever experienced days when you don't know where the time has gone, but you do know you haven't accomplished much, then you need to take a serious look at just what is eating up those precious minutes.
My coach's request of you is to track your time for the next two weeks. Like a food diary makes you intensely aware of what you're eating, a time log will allow you to quickly and easily identify where you're frittering time away.
Most likely culprits?…
Email and TV (yes, I know some of you are 'watching' TV while you're online, and no, that's not multi-tasking, that's just pure distraction).
Once you are aware of where your time is going, make a conscious effort to redirect it to more productive – or even more restful – activities. Turn the TV off (or TIVO/DVR whatever it is you must watch and give it your full attention later). And don't leave your email open all day long! Allot specific time to read and respond to it instead.
You'll be amazed at how just doing this simple exercise will free up the time you want for more important (and fun!) things. (Be sure to read Part 2 of this article next week where I'll share more specific and effective tips for handling email overload.)
2. Clean Up Your Business Space
Now is a great time to go through your files – computer and physical – and delete or organize them for moving forward to 2010.
I spent several hours going through my physical files recently, shredding lots of documents (I love to purge!), and setting up new files for my new Platinum clients as well as empty files for the ones yet to come.
During this process both online and off, I also found a lot of gems I'd forgotten about – pieces of content, systems and processes, tools, resources, audios, and more.
And now that I have a recent visual in my mind of what's in my files, it's literally at my fingertips as I move forward in building my business.
As for my computer, I actually went so far as to purchase a brand new laptop, and I'm being very discerning about what gets transferred over from my old PC to the new. Energetically and electonically, I can feel how much more open the flow is by doing this.
3. Clean up Your Business Circle
This one can be a bit difficult, but it's necessary to prune the people you surround yourself with from time to time. It doesn't mean you have to completely disconnect from them (unless they're just weighing you down energetically), but do make a conscious choice to spend more time in the company of those who lift you up.
Let me give you a simple example. If you're on someone's ezine list just because everyone else is or you feel like you should be, but you either a) don't read it or b) don't feel good when you do read it, just unsubscribe and allow the space for something that resonates with you to take its place.
Or maybe you're part of a mastermind group that you feel you've outgrown. Now is the time to graciously bow out. Once you do, you open the space for a new group to form around you that better supports where you are now.
How are you making space and opening the flow for the new year? I'd love to know – please leave your comments below.
(c) 2009 Alicia Forest
Aout the author: Alicia M Forest, MBA, 6-Figure Business Breakthrough Mentor, teaches self-employed professionals how to attract more clients, create profit-making products and services, make more sales, and ultimately live the life they desire and deserve. For FREE tips on how to create wild abundance in your business, visit http://www.ClientAbundance.com
As we head into the season of giving, now is a great time to show appreciation to your clients and customers. Taking the time to give thanks to your clients will set you apart, increase loyalty, improve retention, inspire more sales, and deepen relationships that last long after the initial sale.
Here are 10 easy ways you can say thank you to your clients:
1. Greeting Cards
My husband often teases me that I should own stock in Hallmark for the amount of money I spend a year on cards. I love to send cards, for a specific reason or for no reason at all.
For business, you've probably heard of SendOutCards (and no, I'm not an affiliate or a distributor). I get a lot of cards this way, from colleagues, and it definitely deepens the relationship for me. And it is a super-easy way for you to do that with your customers too.
2. Personal Notes
I love to send personal notes too. I have specially designed notecards that I send when I just want to connect with someone after a particularly powerful coaching call, when someone makes an investment in Platinum, when I've made a special connection with someone in person, or when a client just needs a little cheer.
3. Invitations
One of the things you can do for your top clients is to invite them to a special event just for them. It can be a lunch or dinner at an event you'll all be at, or carve out a portion of your own live event to spend time just with them.
You can also invite them to special teleseminar or webinar where you offer them free content just for being your top clients.
4. Small Gifts
Flowers, books, a mug, or something more specific are all thoughtful gifts for clients. They can be sent for certain occasions or just because (that's actually my favorite way to send a gift).
5. Gift Cards
These days you can get gift cards for almost any product or service. Some companies, like Starbucks, offer having your logo or business name imprinted on them. Other ideas besides coffee include restaurants, movies, bookstores, office supplies and online vendors like Amazon.
6. Referral and Affiliate Rewards
Even if your referral or affiliate programs offer a commission on each referral, sending a personalized note along with it will go further in encouraging your network to continue to promote your offers into the future.
7. Reverse Referrals
Whenever appropriate, refer your clients and customers to others whom they will benefit from. Making this a part of the way you run your business will come back to you ten-fold as it shows the Universe your belief in abundance.
8. Customer Appreciation Days
Pick one day a year to designate as a Customer Appreciation Day to celebrate your clients. Make a special offer only to them and make a lasting impression.
9. Host Events
Host a gathering at the next event where your clients and customers are likely to gather. A Tweetup is a popular way to connect with both current and prospective clients and they are super-simple to set up and cost you nothing but a bit of time. You can also hold a virtual event anytime you want to bring your clients and customers together.
10. Life Events
Weddings, baby showers, major moves, book contracts, big speaking gigs, TV spots, or any other major event warrrants an acknowledgment. A nice card or personal note, or even a quick phone call, will make you memorable for sure.
In what ways are you showing gratitude to your clients and customers? Feel free to share below!
(c) 2009 Alicia Forest
About the author: Alicia M Forest, MBA, 6-Figure Business Breakthrough Mentor, teaches self-employed professionals how to attract more clients, create profit-making products and services, make more sales, and ultimately live the life they desire and deserve. For FREE tips on how to create wild abundance in your business, visit http://www.ClientAbundance.com
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